Morning Trade: Sensex Rises Over 100 Points, Nifty Mounts Near 10,200

Mumbai, March 22: The benchmark BSE Sensex rose over 100 points in early trade today, extending gains for the third session after US Federal Reserve announced the widely-expected hike in key lending rate. The 30-share index was trading 102.07 points, or 0.31 percent, higher to 33,238.25. The gauge had gained 213.06 points in the previous two sessions. Sectoral indices, led by healthcare, metal, capital goods, oil & gas infrastructure, auto and FMCG, gained up to 0.57 percent.

The NSE Nifty also advanced by 32.70 points, or 0.32 percent, to 10,187.95. Major gainers that supported the uptrend were ONGC, Sun Pharma, Tata Motors, Reliance Industries, ITC, Tata Steel and L&T, rising up to 3.05 percent. Brokers said sustained foreign fund inflows, increased buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) and a mixed trend in other Asian bourses, after the Fed rate hike, influenced the market. An appreciating rupee against the dollar also supported investor sentiment, they said.

Meanwhile, on a net basis, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth Rs 98.44 crore, while DIIs purchases equities to the tune of Rs 197.78 crore yesterday, provisional data showed. Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was trading higher by 0.38 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.61 percent in their early deals. The Shanghai Composite index was down by 0.93 percent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.18 percent lower in yesterday's trade.